| September 2, 2004
Bringing Comfort Together Stitch
by Stitch
Courtesy Photo Women of the Falls Church Quilt Guild stitching the Comfort Quilt
By LT Paula P. Godes, MSC Staff Education and
Training
Some things cannot be completed quickly. some things deserve time and planning. It was Paul J. Meyer, author and motivational speaker, who said, "Plan your progress carefully; hour-by-hour, day-by-day, month-by-month." Little did I expect that it would take over 16 months of progress to complete the Comfort Quilt. An artistic commemoration in fabric and thread the quilt recognizes USNS Comfort's role during the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Measuring just shy of 11 feet in width and 12 feet in length, the quilt took 40 volunteers from the Falls Church Quilt Guild over 1,500 hours of work piecing and sewing thousands of quilting stitches to bring the Comfort's stories to dimensional life. The Comfort Quilt and the story it tells will be housed on display in the Women in Military Service to America (WIMSA) Memorial. Located right next to Arlington National Cemetery, WIMSA has graciously offered to fund the exhibit and has scheduled the public unveiling of the quilt for Veteran's Day, at 3 p.m., November 11, 2004. An audio-visual display will be incorporated alongside the quilt, with a continuous slide show of pictures and excerpts of oral interviews. Display boards of enlarged photos will flank the entrance to the alcove where the quilt will be presented. The quilt speaks to the uniqueness of the Comfort's mission during uncertain times. Memorialized on the quilt are stories of nine Purple Heart recipients, the fisherman saved at sea, and the unforeseen mission of caring for civilian Iraqi women and children. It lists the impressive statistics accomplished in a 7-week period of receiving casualties, it displays pictures of our care, and it quotes the feelings and passion of the doctors, nurses and corpsmen. The quilt touches on what it is be "American," to rise up in the face of challenges and see it through to the end. Lee Ann Ghajar, the Curator of Exhibits and Historian, worked to have the project approved and to have WIMSA display the quilt. At our first meeting she told me, "This story needs to be told. I hope we can do it justice." A couple of months later, I was notified the project had been approved and shortly after met with Lee Ann, Donna Houle, Director, Memorial Education Center, Britta Granrud, Curator of Collections, and John Farr, the man who was to build the frame that the quilt hangs on. "Too much ambient light," said Britta as we walked around the Memorial looking for the most appropriate display area. "That might have worked, but it's too long." noted Lee Ann as John measured the distance from an overhang to the floor. "What about the Registry Alcove?" Donna suggested. "It's dim, but John, you could hang lighting to illuminate the quilt over here, couldn't you?" Excited, Lee Ann added, "This would actually be perfect to hang against the backdrop next to the audio-visual screen ... we can run the slide show next to it!" As Britta, John and Donna talked about the logistics of the display, Lee Ann leaned over to me and said, "When you look at the amount of information and statistics on this quilt ... it's fascinating ... unbelievable." Donna agreed, "I think this will be a really nice exhibit and people will love it." I was smiling as I left the Memorial. The Comfort Quilt is pulling into the harbor and ready to "man the rails." It was an amazing journey and I salute the USNS Comfort and the men and women I served with. We can be proud. In uncertain times of war, we show the best of America to a country in turmoil. If you have a story you want to share or to be part of the oral history interviews, please contact LT Godes at ppgodes@bethesda.med.navy.mil. Corpsmen, especially, are encouraged to get involved. Tax deductible donations are greatly appreciated to make this and other exhibits possible. Please make checks payable to Women's Memorial Foundation. The mailing address is as follows: Women's Memorial Foundation
|
|
|
